What is so interesting to me about albinism in bettas is that albinos are often the first color morphs discovered and maintained in most captive species, like albino ball pythons, swordtails, and axolotls, but lines of albinos in bettas have yet to be maintained for long periods of time. Why albino bettas are so profoundly handicapped and fail to thrive as adults is so far unknown.

Albino bettas are a great mystery. Why are they so rare? It is generally accepted that albinism in bettas is a recessive trait, and can occasionally pop up in the same lines. What is so strange is that albino bettas generally fail to thrive once they reach adulthood, and (according to Sam T., owner and photographer of the albino DT above) have great difficulty locating food (perhaps through impaired vision and sense of smell).